Assassin’s Creed: Mirage is the latest installment from Ubisoft in the long-standing battle between Assassins and Templars. Expanding on the narrative introduced in Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Mirage delves into the intriguing backstory of Basim, a pivotal character in the series.
### Unveiling Basim’s Past
Basim’s unexpected emergence in England to aid Eivor left players wondering about his motivations. In Mirage, Ubisoft takes players on a journey to uncover Basim’s origins and presents a love letter to the early games in the franchise. While the gameplay nods to the classic Assassin’s Creed style, the narrative falls short of delivering a truly engaging storyline with standout characters.
### A Return to Classic Gameplay
Mirage offers a simplified gameplay experience reminiscent of the earlier titles in the series. The game’s design focuses on stealth and exploration, with a structured mission system that guides players through Basim’s quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding the conflict between the Order of the Ancients and the Hidden Ones. The bustling city of Baghdad serves as the backdrop for most missions, immersing players in a vibrant world filled with NPCs going about their daily routines.
The missions in Mirage encourage stealth tactics, from navigating through the city’s rooftops to using tools to distract or incapacitate enemies. The skill tree allows players to customize their playstyle, whether opting for a stealthy approach or engaging in combat. As players progress through the game, they will face increasingly challenging encounters that test their skills in both stealth and combat.
Navigating the city dynamically with parkour, climbing buildings to reach important targets, eavesdropping on conversations to gather information, and creating distractions to attract the most relevant targets are part of the gameplay loop in Assassin’s Creed: Mirage. At times, you may even have to find disguises to enter certain locations. Despite delivering some fun moments, the game suffers from a problem that breaks immersion: the behavior of enemies, specifically the artificial intelligence. It was common to eliminate a guard with others looking on and pretending not to notice, while at other times you could be spotted even when not in their line of sight.
**Graphics and Sound**
Graphically, Ubisoft Bordeaux and the Ubisoft teams worldwide have achieved a result that deserves many accolades. Baghdad and its surrounding areas, from the desert, oasis, to smaller settlements, offer moments of great beauty, with a strong contribution from the lighting effects. The game is visually stunning, with a minimal amount of visual bugs and detailed environments. The audio also enhances the immersive experience in Baghdad, featuring a soundtrack that complements the gameplay moments.
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage is a game with moments of pure splendor, where you will find yourself absorbing the scenes and the city where Basim passes through. The focus on stealth elements, simplified for immediate fun, is engaging. However, the enemy AI constantly breaks immersion and detracts from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a refined classic gameplay with new mechanics and a graphical quality full of great moments.
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